Ursus americanus

Appearance: American black bears, despite their name, may appear brown, tan, or even white. During the winter, these large, powerful creatures can weigh over 500 pounds before they enter a state of dormancy called torpor, which helps them conserve energy while food is less abundant. Long, powerful, non-retractable claws make them excellent climbers, a necessary skill in the search for food and safety.

Range: Black bears can be found throughout North America, particularly in forested areas. Their home range may expand to more than 5,000 acres for a single bear and often overlaps with others.

Diet: Black bears are innovative omnivores, making “bear-proofing” a serious task for many local homeowners. In the wild, these bears forage a variety of grasses, fish, berries, fruits, nuts, insects, small rodents, birds, and eggs.

Uno

Date of Birth: January 2004

Uno came to the WNC Nature Center in 2006. The bear that lived here before him, named Zero, inspired Uno’s name.

Ursa

Date of Birth: February 2001

Ursa came to the WNC Nature Center in fall 2002. She is named for the Ursa Major family of star constellations, which is Latin for “great bear.”